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Chairman of the newly set up post-Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) committee for the creative industry, Mr. Ali Baba has expressed appreciation to the President Muhammadu Buhari government.
Ali Baba expressed his appreciation following the inauguration of the post-Covid-19 committee for the creative industry by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Tuesday.
Speaking on why the committee was set up, Ali Baba said there was a need to know who is who in the creative industry and what each person is contributing to the industry as a whole, including how each of those services had been interrupted.
“Thank you all for responding to the call by the #CreativeIndustryCommittee. The platform for the questionnaires has now closed. The interesting thing we found out, is that many people don’t like to share what will benefit others.
“So, you are a Deejay, you filled as an individual, you know many other Deejays like you, but refuse to tell them to go do the same. But you will share with them jokes, videos, Instagram reposts… etc at the drop of a hat.
“The Committee was set up because of the need to know who is who in the creative industry and what each person is contributing to the industry as a whole. Including how each of those services had been interrupted.
“The other purpose of the mandate is also to enable us suggest to government how they can support the sector in the new way of going about its business, post COVID-19.
“Many of the sub sectors, which form the whole industry, depend on each other to harness the economic value of all players. It’s an Ecosystem of connected chains, linked by services, platforms, creativity and value propositions, feeding off one another.
“Musicians depend on radio and television to give them airtime. The broadcasters cannot use generator sound to entertain listeners. And no advertiser will come if they do not see your listeners and viewers.
“Your journalists, photographers, reporters, presenters, keep your media empire alive. Writers need printers and publishers. Proofreaders and editors need writers to be in business.
“What would gallery owners display if not creative works of artists? The artists also need the Galleries to showcase their works. Who covers events? Photographers and videographers. Journalists report the event.
“Yet, Event planners will tell you they are the most important sector in the ecosystem and as such, they are the most hit by the pandemic. True that they have been hit. But the broadcast industry, has been hit, and they are still on air.
“The creative industry is closely knitted together. That is why a holistic approach has to be employed, to curate the Covid-19 damage to all the sectors. We are still working to cover all. It’s less than 2 weeks to go,” Ali Baba stated.
TNG reports Lai Mohammed inaugurated the post-Covid-19 committee for the creative industry on Tuesday with a call on all members of the industry to support the committee in the interest of the industry.
“The Committee’s membership, as announced two weeks ago, has now been expanded to include as many sectors as possible. This is to ensure a fair representation.
”However, while the committee cannot accommodate all members of the
industry, it is certain that all members will benefit from its work.
“I therefore want to implore the entire industry to support this committee. This is no time for division. All hands must be on deck so the industry can rebound,” the Minister said while inaugurating the committee.
Lai Mohammed described the creative industry as a very critical sector of the nation’s economy and a major plank of the economic diversification policy of this administration.
He said that in view of the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the creative industry, it has become imperative to have a collective and government-supported approach in dealing with the immediate, short and long term economic stimulus and initiatives for the industry, in order to mitigate the effect of the pandemic on the sector.
“Two weeks ago, I announced the establishment of this committee. In doing so, I said the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted negatively on the nation, and that the Creative Industry has been particularly hard hit, considering the fact that it is an industry that has people-interaction at its core. I also said that instead of addressing
these problems piecemeal, we should do so holistically for a more positive outcome,” the Minister said.
While commending members of the Committee for their sacrifice and love of country, he urged them to do justice to the assignment, which will culminate in suitable recommendations that will help the industry to thrive and expand.
The committee’s terms of reference are: assess the expected impact of the pandemic on the industry in general; advise the government on how to mitigate job and revenue losses in the sector as well as to create succour for the industry small businesses; suggest the type of taxation and financing that is best for the industry at this time to encourage growth and advise the government on any other measure or measures that can be undertaken to support the industry.
Members of the Committee are:
1. Ali Baba – Comedy, Film and TV (Chairman)
2. Hajia Sa’a Ibrahim – Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria
(BON) – Vice Chairman
3. Bolanle Austen Peters – Film and Performing Arts
4. Charles Novia – Television and Independent Producer
5. Segun Arinze- Actor and Producer
6. Ali Jita – Actor and Musician
7. Baba Agba – Film Director
8. Kene Okwuosa – Cinema and Distribution
9. Efe Omoregbe – Record label and Collective rights management
10. Prince Daniel Aboki – Radio and Film
11. Chioma Ude – Streaming
12. Olumade Adesemowo – Television and Platform (FreeTV)
13. Dare Art Alade – Livespot Entertainment
14. Oliver Enwonwu – President, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA),
15. Alhaji Saleh Rabo – President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria
16. Bala Hassan – Booksellers Association
17 Ali Nuhu – Kannywood
18 Tajudeen Owoyemi – Hotels
19. B.M. Dzukogi – Association of Nigerian Authors
20. TY Bello – Photography
21. Lanre Da Silva Ajayi – Fashion
22. Anita Eboigbe – Secretary